Waltham Forest council has become the first to ban spitting (Picture: Google Maps)

A council in north-east London has become the first to introduce a ban on spitting in the street.

Waltham Forest officials will have the power to fine individuals who release their phlegm in public as well as anyone that urinates on roads.

When talking about the on-the-spot penalties, councillor Clyde Loakes said: ‘Residents have told us that they are concerned about this and want the council to do something.

‘It’s not just spitting, its urinating in public as well.

‘These two kind of anti-social, enviro-crime issues need to be tackled, so we have come forward with the proposition that we will treat urinating in public and spitting as waste and will push hard to enforce fixed penalty notices on those we manage to catch.’

Waltham Forest council said it had been able to introduce the measure quickly because it declared spit and urine as waste.

Enfield council plan to implement similar rules but their proposal for a new by-law is still awaiting government approval.